Camera: Canon 80D

Lens: 100-400

Aperture: F7.1

Shutter speed: 1/1250

ISO: 640

Description: Mother hippo with her two babies enjoying the coolness of the water

Story from behind the lens: As we sat watching and photographing the hippos I noticed this mother and her two babies, lazing and swimming in the water occasionally dipping down and coming back up with a little splash. When the family of three all gathered together it was like a big family hug moment. As the second baby came up and joined in, cuddling up to mom it seemed to have a contented smile of love on its face. I don't normally think of these large dangerous animals as sweet and tender but this moment spoke to my heart with the family love between a parent and baby.